3D-ordered macroporous materials comprising DNA

Macroporous materials comprising DNA were fabricated with the colloidal crystal template. First, DNA and diazoresin (DR) molecules are fully filled into the voids of a colloidal crystal template. After thermal treatment and removal of the colloids, DNA porous materials with highly ordered structure were obtained. In the process of thermal treatment the cross-linking reaction takes place between DR and DNA, which plays an important role for sustaining the porous framework. The DNA porous materials will turn into a fluorescent DNA/dye composite after staining with Hoechst 33258 (Hoe), a characteristic fluorescent dye for DNA. This kind of composite DNA porous material may have potential applications in optical devices.     

Synthesis and crystallization of macroporous hydroxyapatite

Macroporous hydroxyapatite Ca₁₀(PO₄)₆(OH)₂ was synthesized using ordered polystyrene sphere templates that were impregnated with a calcium phosphate precursor solution which was allowed to solidify followed by sintering from 500 to 1000 °C in flowing oxygen to remove the polymer and crystallize the phosphates. Using a combination of diffraction and imaging the face-centered cubic macroporous framework was shown to have pore diameters of 0.8-0.9 μm and to be composed of hydroxyapatite (80-98 wt%) and X-ray diffraction amorphous material (14-55%), the proportions dependent on the duration and temperature of heat treatment. At lower sintering temperatures the HAp is calcium deficient. Ion exchange of calcium by cadmium demonstrated the potential of this material for hazardous waste remediation.     

Coprecipitation of calcium hydroxyapatite,graphene oxide,and chitosan from aqueous solutions

We determined the character of interactions between calcium hydroxyapatite Са₁₀(РO₄)₆(ОН)₂ (HA), graphene oxide (GO), and chitosan (С₆Н₁₁NO₄) _n (CHT) to yield HA/CHT/GO nanocomposites (NCs) in the СаС1₂–(NH₄)₂НРО₄–NH₃–Н₂О–(С₆Н₁₁NO₄) _n –GO system (25°С). A set of physicochemical methods helped us to elucidate composition–synthesis parameters–structure–particle size–properties correlations for the prepared NCs and to prove the feasibility to manufacture NCs with tailored HA, CHT, and GO contents, described by the bulk formula Са₁₀(РО₄)₆(ОН)₂ · х(С₆Н₁₁NO₄) _n · yGO · zН₂О, where х = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3; y = 0.6, 1.2, 2.4; and z = 6.0–7.4.     

Quantum chemical and spectroscopic analysis of calcium hydroxyapatite and related materials

Amorphous calcium hydroxyapatite was examined by vibrational spectroscopy (Raman and infra-red (IR)) and quantum chemical simulation techniques. The structures and vibrational (IR, Raman and inelastic neutron scattering) spectra of PO₄³⁻ ion, Ca₃(PO₄)₂, [Ca₃(PO₄)₂]₃, Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH, CaHPO₄, [CaHPO₄]₂, Ca₃(PO₄)₂·H₂O, Ca₃(PO₄)₂·2H₂O and Ca₃(PO₄)₂·3H₂O clusters were quantum chemically simulated at ab initio and semiempirical levels of approximation. A complete coordinate analysis of the vibrational spectra was performed. The comparison of the theoretically simulated spectra with the experimental ones allows to identify correctly the phase composition of the amorphous calcium hydroxyapatite and related materials. The shape of the bands in the IR spectra of the hydroxoapatite can be used in order to characterize the structural properties of the material, e.g., the PO₄³⁻ ion status, the degree of hydrolysis of the material and the presence of hydrolysis products.     

Formation of composite scaffolds based on chitosan and calcium phosphate

Composite materials based on chitosan and calcium phosphates with the structure and properties close to those of natural human tissues were developed. The possibility of formation of biological apatite, i.e., octacalcium phosphate, was demonstrated. The increase in the strength characteristics was caused by crystallization of the octacalcium phosphate phase on the surface of the material pore space. The materials resemble the extracellular matrix of the body in their structure and composition and can find wide use in the regenerative medicine as a scaffold for osteogenic factors.     

Template synthesis of ordered macroporous hydroxyapatite bioceramics

Hydroxyapatite has found wide application in bone tissue engineering. Here we use a macroporous carbon template to generate highly ordered macroporous hydroxyapatite bioceramics composed of close-packed hollow spherical pores with interconnected channels. The template has advantages for the preparation of ordered materials.     

Formation of 2D calcium hydroxyapatite on stainless steel modified with a TiN sublayer

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Peroxo derivatives of hydroxyapatite and calcium hydrophosphate

Hydroxyapatite and calcium hydrophosphate peroxo solvates were synthesized and characterized by IR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and TGA to be used as biocompatible and antibacterial medicaments in manufacturing calcium phosphate bioceramics for implantations in orthopedics and dentistry. A wide range of hydrogen peroxide percentages in stable mixtures of mCa₅(PO₄)₃(OH) + nCaHPO₄ · H₂O₂ · H₂O (ranging from 0.5 to 18%) allows composites to be prepared with a tailored active oxygen content.     

Formation of calcium carbonate films on chitosan substrates in the presence of polyacrylic acid

In this investigation, chitosan membranes with different surface average degrees of deacetylation (DA) are prepared and then are employed as the support matrix to culture calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). In the presence of high concentration of polyacrylic acid (PAA), the CaCO₃ films obtained on the surface of all chitosan films mainly consisted of vaterite, which suggests the presence of bulk PAA plays an overwhelming part in stabilizing the vaterite. As a comparison, the influences of active groups indicate that only in case of low concentration PAA the thin CaCO₃ films grown on chitosan with 8% DA mainly consisted of vaterite owing to the strong nucleation ability of -NH₂ group, whereas, for those grown on chitosan with 80% DA the CaCO₃ films mainly consisted of aragonite. A more complex scenario revealed that in the case of intermediate concentration of PAA the formed polymorphs behave as mixtures of vaterite and aragonite.     

Sorption of phosphates on macroporous synthetic calcium silicates

The sorption of phosphate ions on macroporous synthetic calcium silicates has been studied and it has been evaluated whether the latter are suitable to serve as sorbents of geochemical barriers preventing phosphorus losses from agricultural soils.     

Albumin separation with Cibacron Blue carrying macroporous chitosan and chitin affinity membranes

Cibacron Blue F3GA, Procion Red HE-3B and Procion Blue MX-R were immobilized on macroporous chitosan and chitin membranes with concentrations as high as 10–200 μmol/ml membrane. These dyed membranes were chemically and mechanically stable, could be reproducibly prepared, and operated at high flow rates. Human serum albumin (HSA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were selected as model proteins, and their adsorption on and desorption from the dyed chitosan membranes investigated. The Cibacron Blue F3GA membranes had a higher protein adsorption capacity, much greater for HSA than BSA, than the other dyed membranes. About 8.4 mg HSA/ml membrane were adsorbed at saturation by Cibacron Blue F3GA–chitosan membranes from a 0.05 M Tris–HCl/0.05 M NaCl, pH 8 solution. The chitin membranes had a lower dye content and hence a lower protein adsorption capacity than the chitosan membranes. The effects of important operation parameters (flow rate, protein concentration and loading) were also investigated. Cibacron Blue F3GA–chitosan membranes were employed for the separation of HSA from human plasma and high purity HSA thus obtained. This suggests that these membranes could be used for large-scale plasma fractionation.     

Formation of thin calcium carbonate films with aragonite and vaterite forms coexisting with polyacrylic acids and chitosan membranes

CaCO3 crystallization on a chitosan membrane was studied using diffusion of (NH4)2CO3 vapors into a CaCl2 solution containing differing added amounts of two polyacrylic acids (PAAs) with molecular weights of ca. 2.0 x 10(3) and ca. 4.5 x 10(4). The coexistence of PAA and the chitosan membranes produced thin CaCO3 island crystals, which developed into a continuous CaCO3 film on the membranes. Continuous CaCO3 films consisting of only aragonite formed on the chitosan membranes at the optimum amount of PAA. When the amount of PAA is not optimum, the polymorph of CaCO3 switches from aragonite to vaterite, and the morphology has a tendency to become an isolated island structure. The formation of the aragonite and vaterite island crystals and the appearance of a range of added PAA suitable for their formation are explained by the action of two parallel phenomena: (a) the high concentration of Ca2+ ions in the chitosan membrane vicinity is achieved by the interaction between the -COO- groups of PAA adsorbed by the -NH3+ groups of the chitosan membrane through an electrostatic force and free Ca2+ ions in the CaCl2 solution, which produces the high supersaturation with CaCO3 in the membrane vicinity during CO2 diffusion; (b) PAA, remaining as mobile carboxylic anions in the CaCO3 solution, inhibits the growth of the CaCO3 island crystals by its adsorption. The CaCO3 supersaturation in the membrane vicinity is controlled by regulating the balance of these phenomena, which leads to the formation of the desired CaCO3 polymorph.     

Sodium and carbonate distribution in substituted calcium hydroxyapatite

Hydroxyapatites containing sodium and carbonate are prepared according to a double decomposition method. Two samples have been investigated by IR absorption spectroscopy and X-ray powder pattern fitting methods. Results confirm that both compounds pertain to the apatite family crystallising in a hexagonal system, space group P6₃/m. The cell parameters of the lower carbonate content apatite are a=9.3892(4) and c=6.9019(3) Å, while those of the higher one are a=9.3249(1) and c=6.9213(1) Å. Occupancy factors show that sodium is localised mainly in a 6h cationic site. Furthermore, carbonate ions occupy phosphate sites leading to a B-type carbonate apatite. These simultaneous substitutions affect the OH⁻ position in the channel, as well as the metaloxygen interatomic distances. The substitution mechanism can be described using two of the six known elementary mechanisms.     

Fabrication and properties of mineralized collagen‐chitosan/hydroxyapatite scaffolds

A hydroxyapatite (HAp)/biopolymer composite scaffold was fabricated by mineralizing a crosslinked collagen/chitosan, which was pre‐mineralized with Ca²⁺ and phosphate salts, in simulated body fluid (SBF) for only 24 hr. A self‐organized structure similar to bone is expected. Microstructures of the crosslinked collagen/chitosan scaffold, the pre‐mineralized collagen–chitosan scaffold (CCS), and the mineralized collagen‐chitosan/HAp scaffolds (MCCHS) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealing non‐alteration of the porous structure and formation of the HAp particles. X‐ray diffractometer (XRD) confirmed the crystalline structure of the HAp. Thermal gravimetric analysis found that more HAp particles were formed when the CCSs were pre‐mineralized in a higher concentration of Ca²⁺. Water‐uptake ratio of the crosslinked CCS was ～160, decreased to ～120 after incubating in Ca²⁺ solution, and further decreased to ～20 after mineralization. Mechanical strength of the CCS was improved significantly after the in situ mineralization too. The method introduced here may be potentially applied to obtain other biopolymer/HAp composite in a short period. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Formation of macroporous self-assembled hydrogels through cryogelation of Fmoc-Phe-Phe

In this study, it was found that macroporous hydrogels were formed when self-assembly of fluorenyl-9-methoxycarbonyl (Fmoc)-diphenylalanine (Phe-Phe) peptides was induced using glucono-δ-lactone (GdL) in apparently frozen samples. Formed cryogels exhibited a heterogeneous structure with pore walls of densely packed fibres of assembled dipeptides and pores in the range 10-100 μm. Hydrogels formed from the same composition above the freezing point exhibited a homogenous structure without any apparent porosity. The formed gels were characterised using microscopy techniques, CD-spectroscopy and stress sweeps. The cryogels exhibited less mechanical strength than the hydrogels that might be due to the heterogeneous structure of the former. It appeared that the self-assembled peptide both in the cryo- and hydrogel maintained the β-sheet structure commonly attributed to these.     

Electrochemistry and biosensing activity of cytochrome c immobilized in macroporous materials

An amperometric biosensor for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has been constructed by immobilizing cytochrome c on an indium/tin oxide (ITO) electrode modified with a macroporous material. Cyclic voltammetry showed that the direct and quasi-reversible electron transfer of cytochrome c proceeds without the need for an electron mediator. A surface-controlled electron transfer process can be observed with an apparent heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constant (k_s) of 29.2?s^?1. The biosensor displays excellent electrocatalytic responses to the reduction of H₂O₂ to give amperometric responses that increase steadily with the concentration of H₂O₂ in the range from 5???M to 2?mM. The detection limit is 0.61???M at pH?7.4. The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K_m) of the biosensor is 1.06?mM. This investigation not only provided a method for the direct electron transfer of cytochrome c on macroporous materials, but also established a feasible approach for durable and reliable detection of H₂O₂.

Surface modification of calcium hydroxyapatite with pyrophosphoric acid

The surface of synthetic colloidal calcium hydroxyapatite (Ca(10)(PO(4))(6)(OH)(2); CaHap) was treated with pyrophosphoric acid (H(4)P(2)O(7); PP) in acetone and the materials were characterized by XRD, thermal analysis, N(2) adsorption, TEM, and FTIR. No remarkable change in XRD patterns or in particle morphology by the modification was observed. The additional amount of PO(4) of CaHap was increased with an increase in PP concentration. The Ca/P molar ratio of CaHap was decreased from 1.62 to 1.35 by the modification. IR results indicated that the PP reacts with surface P-OH groups of CaHap to form additional surface P-OH groups as follows: surface P-OH+H(4)P(2)O(7)--> surface P-O-PO(OH)(2) + H(3)PO(4). When the modified CaHap with Ca/P molar ratio less than 1.50 was treated at 850 degrees C in air, the materials transformed into beta-Ca(3)(PO(4))(2).